My girlfriend and I were recently reading about our personality types (we're each other's recommended types! ) and it gave me an idea. Since Latin and Greek are for the most part voluntary pursuits, I'm interested if the subject attracts a certain personality type (or at least similar types). Let me say that I realize the shortcomings of the Myers-Briggs system. People are infinitely complex, and no system of describing personalities could ever be perfect. That being said, I think the Myers-Briggs system does have some validity and if nothing else, it's fun and interesting!

So... I'm an INTJ according to multiple tests over the years. (I once came up as ISTJ)

Obviously, I have a hypothesis about this, which some of you may guess... but I may be completely wrong!

I'm not sure how accurate my own MBTI type is, since I always have somewhat ambiguous scores and trouble answering the questions accurately. But, I've received ISTP as a result several times now, and the description seems to fit well enough.

I'm the oddball, I guess. I'm a ESFJ, which I feel to be fairly accurate. I'm a physician (medical complications of pregnancy), medical school professor and poet and passionate about my work, a former theology school student, a former rock musician and high-school debater. I'm liberal on the political spectrum and vocal about it. Apparently Martin Luther King, Jr., Bill Clinton, Dezi Arnaz and Dr. McCoy on Star Trek (the fictional character, not the actor who played him) are this personality type. I can live with that.

I'm an INTJ, like many people around here apparently... I didn't know about this test before you revived this thread. Skimming thru the wikipedia article, this Myers-Briggs classification doesn't seem to have enough validity for real (medical or other) use. Beside an amateur Hellenist, I'm a physician (no specialty yet).

I'm an INTJ, like many people around here apparently... I didn't know about this test before you revived this thread. Skimming thru the wikipedia article, this Myers-Briggs classification doesn't seem to have enough validity for real (medical or other) use. Beside an amateur Hellenist, I'm a physician (no specialty yet)

My advice (as a fellow INTJ and a fellow physician): keep away from orthopaedic surgery!
I specialised in neurology which is more in line I guess with the personality type you would expect from someone interested in ancient Greek.

You have slight preference of Introversion over Extraversion (22%)
You have moderate preference of Intuition over Sensing (25%)
You have distinctive preference of Thinking over Feeling (62%)
You have slight preference of Judging over Perceiving (22%)

When I did the test I spent the entire time thinking the questions stupid because I could easily answer all of them either way. All my final scores ended up as 50 50 so enthusiasts for the test would say that was why it was so hard for me chose between the options.

My real objection however is that in my experience your personality does not predict what you do. What it does do is predict the rationalizations that you use to justify what you do.

I would have been dumbfounded and stupefied if I fit the pattern. I don't know any Greek learners who are like me.

I've many, many times thought about the concept Calvinist brought up in this thread. Briggs is not a system I really know. But according to the four point scheme I know, there seems to be a clear pattern.

1 ___ GET IT DONE ___ Directive
2 ___ HAVE FUN _____ Persuasive
3 ___ GET ALONG ____ Cooperative
4 ___ GET IT RIGHT ___ Regulative

The VAST majority of people I know who study Greek are primarily Regulative (4). They are detail minded, intelligent people. They like to be exact, they fear embarrassment. If attacked they withdraw. They protect themselves from controversy by making well crafted rules. They notice the whopping mistakes and anticipate problems far ahead of others. They have a heightened sense of justice. They love a pun. They are introverted, less interested in relations, and more interested in the job -- but not in getting the job done, but in getting it right. The epitome culture of the Regulative is German. There is also a discussion board about Greek that epitomizes the Regulative temperament. On it, the lengthiest and most read comments revolve around accuracy and analysis. Many comments lack the tact, or contain the hubris, that is typical of those who put serious value on Rightness.

I believe that the grammar-translation approach to instruction is itself a filter that favors this type of personality and is, in part, responsible for more Regulative people being Greek students. If a student enjoys the analytic and precise approach of the grammar/translation method, he will survive it (and may go on to actually learn Greek). If a student is interested more in getting the job done (1), or having fun (2), or getting along (3), he will wither in a grammar-translation class.

There is a knock-on effect, as well. Those who end up as Greek instructors are most often Regulative types who are less concerned with relationships, less attuned to learners' needs, and quite content with the grammar-translation method since they respect both tradition and accuracy.

But, these are just some thoughts. I find this sort of stuff engaging, but I realize others find it downright unpleasant. I'm sorry if you who are reading this are one of those. If so, just please dismiss it all. After all, these conclusions are all based only on observation and intuition. And besides, it's all written in big purple font. What's up with that?!?